Edward Elcock

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Edward Wray Elcock on January 31, 2008, in Courtenay, British Columbia. Ted is survived by Marjorie, his loving and devoted wife of 55 years, and by his three sons, Mark, John and Simon (Ginny).

Ted was born in Leeds, England, and it was there that he began his formal education, completing his Physics B. Sc. Honors at Leeds University. Ted enlisted into the Royal Navy and served upon an aircraft carrier as a meteorologist for three years. It was after leaving the Navy that he completed his Ph.D. in Physics at Leeds University, and began his career in Academics. In 1951 he joined the University of Aberdeen as a lecturer and, while teaching, he conducted research that assisted in laying down the foundations of the logic programing language PROLOG. In 1974 he left Scotland, accepting the position of Professor of Computer Science in London, Ontario, Canada. He become a Full Professor and Chairman of the University of Western Ontario’s Computer Science department. It was from UWO that Ted retired in 1991, relocating to Courtenay, British Columbia. In his retirement he was able to dedicate much of his time to improving his golf game, fishing, painting, playing Bridge and became involved in a variety of volunteer projects within the community. He was one of the founding members of Elder College.

Ted was first and foremost a committed husband and father. He nurtured his children with wisdom as his guide, and humour and love as his tools. He will always be remembered and appreciated by his family who always came first. He was always an anchor of reason and kindness, and as such will hold us steady long after our day of loss.

Ted leaves behind many friends and relatives in his beloved home of the Comox Valley, birthplace of England and in London, Ontario.

At Ted’s request there will be no funeral, just think of him when you look to the mountains, or hear the sound of the clarinet.